- June 27, 2025
If you missed it, we are fairly certain you could hear the quiet hum that surrounds South Africa’s next cricket venture. With plenty of resting stars and a couple of new faces, the Proteas head off to Harare for a T20I tri-series against Zimbabwe and New Zealand. They will do this under the lesser-known leadership of Rassie van der Dussen – not a headline that’ll garner fireworks, but scratch the surface, and you’ll discover a storyline full of opportunity, experimentation, and hope for future planning.
Van der Dussen’s Quiet Authority: The Right Man at the Right Time?
Rassie van der Dussen may not present the pizzazz of an AB de Villiers or the headline-stealing aggression of a David Miller, but he brings calm control, tactical nous, and a work ethic to envy. He has spent time as a senior player to have an awareness of the dressing-room conversations, and he knows the pressures of leading a squad that is transitioning.
Markram stepping aside for rest and Rassie taking over the leadership role is both timely and sensible. He is a proven performer in all formats and adds experience to a very inexperienced group. Most importantly, however, he is not a stop-gap; he is a thinking cricketer who can work with players making their debuts while also being able to stabilise the middle order if required. If South Africa is going to push their available depth, they will need Rassie to add stability and a framework. This could even resurrect his captaincy late in his career.
Debut Watch: Lhuan-dre, Hermann & Bosch Bring SA20 Form to the Fore
What’s exciting is the new names. Young talent Pretorius, fresh off a strong SA20 campaign, is preparing for his debut with the national team. He is an aggressive, left-handed opener who takes the game to the bowlers. He is an X-factor player. Rubin Hermann is another SA20 star with an excellent temperament and good strokeplay.
The squad gains a fresh boost of intensity and passion with Bosch on board. He is known for his ODI and red-ball experiences, but the real question will be how he can adapt his multi-format skillset to the rapid nature of T20. Senuran Muthusamy’s selection also acknowledges his versatility and looks like it will be his tactical role that is more reflected than his flamboyance.
South Africa is not just filling holes here; they are seriously auditioning their next set of stars. For spectators, it means there will be fewer “safe picks” and more high-risk, high-reward moments. And that is exciting.
Comebacks, Coaching & the Bigger Picture
Along with the debutants, it’s a lot of returns. Dewald Brevis returns to the national fold after almost two years, and the potential is still bubbling. Nandre Burger and Gerald Coetzee (both of late injury) add the pace that South Africa needs to test in these slower African surfaces.
This is the beginning of Conrad’s T20I chapter as he leads the Proteas under his all-format coaching mandate. Conrad is a developmental coach, brilliant at backing talent, and this selection shows that agenda. This isn’t a case of merely ticking off fixtures on a calendar; this is momentum towards the T20 World Cup in 2026.
On paper, this Harare tri-series may seem a bit underwhelming. But it’s a hidden gem. South Africa isn’t just exposing players – they’re preparing for longer-term depth, combinations, and the possible leadership, pretty much vacant at the top.
Can van der Dussen, having a lot of experience, mold this young team into a team that can compete? Will they? One thing for sure is that this series is where careers can be made or lost.
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